Is it possible that there's a more exciting track than Barber? - LotusTalk

Moto44 · 07-13-2007, 10:34 AM

I know that several people here have tracked at Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama. I was there for two days of riding recently and felt like I had died and gone to track heaven.

With all of the elevation changes, cambered turns, off-camber turns, decreasing radius turns, and blind turns, I can't imagine that there is a more exciting road course in the country. If so, where might that be? How do those of you who have attended Barber rate it? What other tracks do others here consider "must do" tracks?

dasmoofler · 07-13-2007, 10:54 AM

WOW! That looks cool. I assume they have safe run off areas and not cliffs like the 3D graph

ZTEC · 07-13-2007, 10:57 AM

Nope - straight sheer cliffs

slaughtr · 07-13-2007, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dasmoofler

WOW! That looks cool. I assume they have safe run off areas and not cliffs like the 3D graph

Now THAT would be cool. 1/2 road course, 1/2 roller coaster. You go off, too bad.

ace10 · 07-13-2007, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZTEC

Nope - straight sheer cliffs

THAT would be exciting!

Moto44 · 07-13-2007, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dasmoofler

I assume they have safe run off areas and not cliffs like the 3D graph

At our last track day in the Elises, dasmoofler spun off the track twice! Now you understand John's concern.

dasmoofler · 07-13-2007, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moto44

At our last track day in the Elises, dasmoofler spun off the track twice! Now you understand John's concern.

Hey! I only spun OFF the track once! I backed off it the first time after coming to a stop sideways the middle of the track. The time I saved it was cool. Felt like the Exige in the second turn here http://lotuscars.com/

goelise · 07-13-2007, 11:14 AM

There is one track I can think of:
Grattan Raceway
http://www.grattanraceway.com/

In Belding, Michigan

Some people have commented that the track feels tight but I personally love this track because it is very technical. The one thing really fun about this track is that from the pits the you can see 75% of the track at once. It has lots of elevation changes and off camber turns plus a 3200 foot straight and a 160 degree hairpin turn. Some turns are tight with very little room for error and others have a good run off area. For me, the real fun is in the turns at this track.

Moto44 · 07-13-2007, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goelise

There is one track I can think of:
Grattan Raceway

Cool! And relatively close to home. I will be sure to add that to the list. Thanks, El!

JonOrangeElise · 07-13-2007, 11:25 AM

Ok, a wee bit of name-dropping. :-)

When I interviewed Alan Wilson (who designed Barber), he noted that Mont Tremblant is truly fantastic... and I have heard this from many racers as well.

Laguna Seca has some fantastic elevation change.

And many racers will tell you that Sears Point (Infineon) is their favorite road course in America.

goelise · 07-13-2007, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moto44

Cool! And relatively close to home. I will be sure to add that to the list. Thanks, El!

Grattan is where this famous Lotus video was filmed:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIJXEmWIsVk

Here's how it looks from a sportbike:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0c57z7d0Xk

Moto44 · 07-13-2007, 11:44 AM

Jon, thanks for the inside scoop! I've got some research to do.

khamai · 07-13-2007, 11:47 AM

I have a dream summer vacation where I would tour the US/Canada racing the entire summer with my 41...

Road America
Mid-Ohio
Limerock
Watkins Glen
Road Atlanta
Sebring
Barber
Laguna
Mont Tremblant

I'm sure there's others, but it would be a glorious summer. Every 1-2 weeks another great track and other great race!

Cheers,
Kiyoshi

JohnZ · 07-13-2007, 11:58 AM

Barber is an excellent track. Suits the Lotus well with the short straights.
There is good runoff for the most part, although I did see an e46 get totalled when it overcorrected and hit the armco when I was there in May.

Not only is the track great, but the facilities are top notch.

And the Motorcyle Musuem http://www.barbermuseum.org/ has about 30-40 vintage Lotus, including a numer of F1 cars.

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I heard that when the Atlanta Lotus dealer had a track day there last year Barber got one of the Lotus F1 cars out on the track.

djo715 · 07-13-2007, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JonOrangeElise

Laguna Seca has some fantastic elevation change.

And many racers will tell you that Sears Point (Infineon) is their favorite road course in America.

Sears Point Raceway... definitely. Of all the california tracks, this one is (arguably, of course) the most technical and an extremely challenging track. It makes Laguna Seca seem like "a bunch of 90 degree right angle turns... and a corkscrew."

One of my friends who spent a lot of time in Europe mentioned the Nurburgring Nordschleife is a MUST do. I can't wait to try it!

Cheers,
-Darryl

meat · 07-14-2007, 06:47 AM

The 'Ring is the best track out there. Period.

allegretto · 07-14-2007, 07:04 AM

Perhaps not for an Elise, but Road America in a high HP/wt car...Valhalla!!

The "Ring is a public road, and while the length is impressive, it is neither as safe or as fast as a well designed course. Rounding a turn on a 25 ft wide patch and finding a bus 100 ft ahead is not my idea of the "Best".

Moto44 · 07-14-2007, 07:24 AM

allegretto, where do you live? Road America is one of our "local" courses. I've ridden Road America on the motorcycle. Definitely an awesome high horsepower, high speed course.

allegretto · 07-14-2007, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moto44

allegretto, where do you live? Road America is one of our "local" courses. I've ridden Road America on the motorcycle. Definitely an awesome high horsepower, high speed course.

Chicago area. How about you?

Moto44 · 07-14-2007, 07:50 AM

I'm west of the suburbs between Huntley and Marengo. I grew up in Roscoe, not far from Blackhawk Farms Raceway.

I feel we are fortunate to have three very different tracks so close to home: Road America, Blackhawk, and Autobahn. But, wander lust has gotten the best of me.

07-13-2007, 10:34 AM	#1 (permalink)
Moto44 Back in the Saddle Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Illinois Posts: 4,808	Is it possible that there's a more exciting track than Barber? I know that several people here have tracked at Barber Motorsports Park in Alabama. I was there for two days of riding recently and felt like I had died and gone to track heaven. With all of the elevation changes, cambered turns, off-camber turns, decreasing radius turns, and blind turns, I can't imagine that there is a more exciting road course in the country. If so, where might that be? How do those of you who have attended Barber rate it? What other tracks do others here consider "must do" tracks? Attached Images __________________ If nobody ever died doing it, how much fun could it be? Last edited by Moto44 : 07-13-2007 at 10:50 AM.

07-13-2007, 10:57 AM	#3 (permalink)
ZTEC Third Eye Open Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 1,738 Images: 3	Nope - straight sheer cliffs __________________ GO: Vision Function Stage II Intercooled Bliss with Charlie's ECU magic and Ronin's Tenacity! STOP: DBA 4000's, Porterfield R4! TURN: Nitron S/A's Toyo RA1's 225/245 on Rota's!

07-13-2007, 11:14 AM	#8 (permalink)
goelise AR #1275 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Midwest, USA Posts: 2,527 Images: 1	There is one track I can think of: Grattan Raceway http://www.grattanraceway.com/ In Belding, Michigan Some people have commented that the track feels tight but I personally love this track because it is very technical. The one thing really fun about this track is that from the pits the you can see 75% of the track at once. It has lots of elevation changes and off camber turns plus a 3200 foot straight and a 160 degree hairpin turn. Some turns are tight with very little room for error and others have a good run off area. For me, the real fun is in the turns at this track. __________________ '06 Ardent Red Elise - black interior with LSS, Touring, HT, Starshield, Lotus Sport Clutch, Moroso Oil Pan, 2ZZ(#2), Ekological HIDs, Lotus Driving Lights, Stebel Horn, Bootie, Razo '06 Pedal mod,Snorkel Delete,Odyssey 680 with s111 bracket. Future Mods:LETSLA (ordered), Rear toe link brace Thank you FVMC! WOO-HOO!

07-13-2007, 11:25 AM	#10 (permalink)
JonOrangeElise Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: San Francisco Posts: 1,887	Ok, a wee bit of name-dropping. :-) When I interviewed Alan Wilson (who designed Barber), he noted that Mont Tremblant is truly fantastic... and I have heard this from many racers as well. Laguna Seca has some fantastic elevation change. And many racers will tell you that Sears Point (Infineon) is their favorite road course in America. __________________ 2005 Lotus Elise, "the orange car": hard top, touring, starshield, orange/black Lotus Sport seats, 6-point Schroth belts, 4Tress Harness Bar, SJ Racing 15x7/16x8 track wheels (plus stock wheels for the road), RTD Brace, HIDs, Safety Solutions R3 Head & Neck Restraint System 2006 BMW M3 Competition Package, "the blue car": stock

07-13-2007, 11:44 AM	#12 (permalink)
Moto44 Back in the Saddle Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Illinois Posts: 4,808	Jon, thanks for the inside scoop! I've got some research to do. __________________ If nobody ever died doing it, how much fun could it be?

07-13-2007, 10:54 AM	#2 (permalink)
dasmoofler Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: SE WI Posts: 3,088	WOW! That looks cool. I assume they have safe run off areas and not cliffs like the 3D graph

07-13-2007, 11:47 AM	#13 (permalink)
khamai Plain ol' Lotus-nut Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Nor Cal Posts: 3,563	I have a dream summer vacation where I would tour the US/Canada racing the entire summer with my 41... Road America Mid-Ohio Limerock Watkins Glen Road Atlanta Sebring Barber Laguna Mont Tremblant I'm sure there's others, but it would be a glorious summer. Every 1-2 weeks another great track and other great race! Cheers, Kiyoshi __________________ life is better behind the wheel of a Lotus...

07-13-2007, 11:58 AM	#14 (permalink)
JohnZ Lotus guy Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Atlanta Posts: 91	Barber is an excellent track. Suits the Lotus well with the short straights. There is good runoff for the most part, although I did see an e46 get totalled when it overcorrected and hit the armco when I was there in May. Not only is the track great, but the facilities are top notch. And the Motorcyle Musuem http://www.barbermuseum.org/ has about 30-40 vintage Lotus, including a numer of F1 cars. I heard that when the Atlanta Lotus dealer had a track day there last year Barber got one of the Lotus F1 cars out on the track.

07-14-2007, 06:47 AM	#16 (permalink)
meat Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,207 Images: 3	The 'Ring is the best track out there. Period.

07-14-2007, 07:04 AM	#17 (permalink)
allegretto Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 159	Perhaps not for an Elise, but Road America in a high HP/wt car...Valhalla!! The "Ring is a public road, and while the length is impressive, it is neither as safe or as fast as a well designed course. Rounding a turn on a 25 ft wide patch and finding a bus 100 ft ahead is not my idea of the "Best". Last edited by allegretto : 07-14-2007 at 07:10 AM.

07-14-2007, 07:24 AM	#18 (permalink)
Moto44 Back in the Saddle Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Illinois Posts: 4,808	allegretto, where do you live? Road America is one of our "local" courses. I've ridden Road America on the motorcycle. Definitely an awesome high horsepower, high speed course. __________________ If nobody ever died doing it, how much fun could it be?

07-14-2007, 07:50 AM	#20 (permalink)
Moto44 Back in the Saddle Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Illinois Posts: 4,808	I'm west of the suburbs between Huntley and Marengo. I grew up in Roscoe, not far from Blackhawk Farms Raceway. I feel we are fortunate to have three very different tracks so close to home: Road America, Blackhawk, and Autobahn. But, wander lust has gotten the best of me. __________________ If nobody ever died doing it, how much fun could it be?

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